The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-02-23

A HINT TO THE PORTUGUESE COLONY

\ thought occurs to us in connection
with the Portuguese Mutual Benevolent
Society, which may possibly be turned
to practical account. There are now
about ten thousand Portuguese in this
country of all ages. This number will
be increased shortly by another arrival
from Madeira and the Azores, and as it
is understood to be an implied condition
OF the new loan that Portuguese immi-
grafton should be continued, a steady in
fluX of people of this nationality may be
counted on. In our opinion this is a
commendable policy. The Portuguese
have faults like other people, but they
are a thrifty, industrious and prolific
race, and are well adapted to this eli
mate. They are, moreover, Christian
people, and that alone III our Judgment
goes a very long way to commend them
as permanent settlers and ultimate sub
jects of the Kingdom. Their civilization
is that OF all western nations, and there
fore they pass under the control of our
laws without murmur.
CNi IllOuSllG lIIGI4 10 ILLS
Would it not be practicable for the Portu-
guese Mutual Benevolent Society to or
ganize Bureau for the purpose of pro-
viding domestic help for families, to the
end that it might be possible for house
keepers to dispense with Chinese. We
take it, all other things being equal, that
any family would prefer neat and cleanly
Portuguese girls to the average Chinese
help, who is not always neat and seldom
clearly. For obvious reasons the pres
ence of Cinnamon in families where
there are young children is undesirable,
and the one feature of Honolulu life
which is repellant to the well-balanced
minds of foreign visitors is the apparent
ly absolute dependence of families and
individuals upon Chinese. The Chinese
have no moral responsibility, no social
obligations, no family ties, and are sim
ply kept in order by the dread of conse-
quences and by policy. But so strong have
they become in virtue of their numbers
and secret organizations, that it is only
apparently question of time and con-
venience to themselves when they will
change their attitude towards law and
society.
OF course, we do not intend to elabo-
rate any plan of organization for the pur-
pose indicated. Our object will have
been attained if we direct leading mem
bers OF the Portuguese colony to this
important question. We see no reason
why Chinese should not be gradually
displaced as house servants by Portu-
guese females, and from light employ
ment around homes by Portuguese lads.
No doubt there will be some difficulty in
the training of this new class OF help,
bat not more so than in training Chinese,
who, as a rule, reward their instructors
by peremptory demand for increased
pay, or an abrupt departure for some
more highly paid place when they be-
gin TO be useful.
And in this relation we think We are
justified in appealing to the wives and
mothers of Honolulu to help their sis
tiers who cross the sea to undertake ser
vice and better their condition in this
country. Our proposal is in the line of
good morals, and as we understand it, is
also in the line of practical Christianity.
If one or more OF the organizations of
Christian ladies in this city were to take
up this matter, and give it their per
sonal encouragement and direction, they
would be amply rewarded by the results.
At all events, we sincerely trust that the
more active and influential among the
Portuguese population will act upon our
suggestion.